Sometimes, a data field may appear in different locations on different pages. In such cases, it’s useful to set up a backup XPath in case the primary XPath fails to locate the element. If Octoparse can’t find the target data field using the primary XPath, it will automatically try the backup XPath (also called the alternative XPath) to capture the desired data.
This tutorial will teach you how to set up an alternative XPath.
1. Click on the More icon- select Customize XPath
Click on the ... More icon from your target data field
Select Customize XPath
2. Input the alternative XPath
Tick the option for Try alternative XPath.
Input the alternative XPath
Note: Relative XPath and backup XPath cannot be used at the same time. If a relative XPath is applied to locate a data field, the backup XPath will be disabled.